Regardless of whether you’re still a bit jet-lagged or well-rested from a staycation over Golden Week, this coming pizza weekend is for you. This Saturday and Sunday (October 15-16) in Zaha Hadid-designed Wangjing Soho, The Beijinger will be hosting the 2016 Pizza Cup.

Pizza vendors all across Beijing will be showing off their cheese. With over two dozen pizzeria vendors whose specialties vary from classic cheese, deep dish, thin crust, and a multitude of exciting topping options; you’ll be able to indulge in Beijing’s highest quality pizza brands all day for a small entry price of only RMB25 per person. The Beijinger’s 2016 Pizza Cup is also granting free entry for international K-12 students as long as they present their student ID’s.

If unlimited pizza wasn’t enough to get you and the family out this weekend, Olive International School, EtonKids, Dreammaker, Sanfine Hospital, Gung Ho, and Annie’s are also hosting kid-themed games and activities to keep children engaged and give adults a break from the stress of the week.

Some of the activities include, pizza themed arts and crafts, pizza making classes, a dough tossing competition, art projects, sporting activities, and more. This year’s Pizza Cup will also be featuring the best band in Beijing, Stevie Mac and the Mac Daddies, to keep the day lively and exciting. Not really into pizza? Other yummy foods like milkshakes, cakes, and desserts will also be served at select vendors. If this year’s pizza fest doesn’t make you want to drool I’m not sure what will.

For more information on ticket pricing, purchases, and packages click here. Click here for detailed directions on how to get to The Beijinger’s 2016 Pizza Fest in Wangjing SOHO.

Even though most schools are closed or winding down, and friends are leaving for the summer, there’s still plenty to do in Beijing. Check out our summer camps post if you’re wanting a long term solution for your child’s many free hours, as some camps might still be open for registration.

Free Events

Growth Mindset, June 22
Adults. Suzy Wang, Co-Head of Daystar Academy will lead this conversation about teaching and parenting children with growth in mind. Free. 10.30am-Noon. Daystar Academy, Cathay View Campus (Register here)

International Newcomers Network’s Sanlitun Coffee Morning, June 22
Adults.  Come meet your Sanlitun neighbors and get the lowdown about what’s going on in Beijing. Free. 10am-Noon.  Colibri Café. (http://innbeijing.com)

International Newcomers Network’s Beer Night, June 23
Adults. We will be exploring little gems along with some of our old standby favorites around town! Come join INN to meet new friends and fellow beer enthusiasts to talk beer, sports or wherever the topic goes. Free. 7-9pm. Contact William Frisby for location. (WeChat: 13141443186)

Hello, Greece! June 26
Ages 8+ This fun fair will include Greek cuisine, art exhibitions, Greek language workshops, Greek Instruments workshops, music, dance, and research based talks. Free. 2-7pm. W Stage (185.1868.2745)

Mandarin Month Mixer: Meet Beijing’s Best Mandarin Schools, June 25
Adults. After a great Mandarin Month, our sister publication, theBeijinger, is wrapping up with a meet and greet for students, schools, and tutors. Free. 2-5pm. Home Plate BBQ (Register here)

Massages and makeovers while kids are actively engaged and playing with one another? This is brilliant!

Unique Events

Beijing Zoo, June 21
Ages 3+ Take a walk on the wild side with That’s Mandarin at the Beijing Zoo. Home to animals from around the world, it’s fun for all the family. RMB 500. 1-5pm Beijing Zoo (info@thatsmandarin.com)

Rock Music Concert – Be Their Voice!, June 21
14+ This rock music concert aims to promote kindness to animals. Come and have a good time for a great cause, meeting like-minded people and be the voice for animals in China. RMB 80. 7.30pm-9.30pm. Poly Theatre (010-8451.8800)

Professional Development Series: Changing Jobs and Industries, June 23
Adults. JingJobs is teaming up with Beijing Women’s Network for this talk on the price of changing industries and jobs. This workshop seeks to answer the question, how much change is too much? RMB 50 (Door) 7-9pm. Inn Cube (Register here)

Science Museum Visit, June 23
Ages 3+ Join That’s Mandarin on a visit to China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, where you can explore hands-on, interactive exhibits showcasing China’s contributions to the scientific field. RMB 500. 1-5pm. That’s Mandarin (info@thatsmandarin.com)

Chinese Kung Fu Class, June 24
Ages 7+ Everyone is welcome, even if you are not a student here. Reservation needed, signing deadline June 21. RMB 200. 1-3pm. (info@beijingmandarinschool.com)

Playdate for All! End of School Extravaganza, June 25
All ages. Sanfine has mixed up the perfect playdate for literally the whole family. There’s bowling, ballet, face painting, arts and crafts, and a bouncy castle for kiddos under six. For kids between seven and sixteen, they’ve planned competitions (basketball, scooters, and electric cars), and DJ training. For the most mature of the party people, they’ve gotThai massages, manicures, hair styling, and henna tattoos. Early bird tickets until June 16 cover two parents and two kids, RMB 100, then RMB 50 for each additional ticket. 11am-3pm. Sanfine International Hospital, Outdoor Sky Garden (Register here)

One Day trip to “Shilingxia Scenic Area” 石林峡, June 25
Ages 3+ Get a bit of a break for kids under 1.2 meters (as long as they sit in your lap) on this trip to this area which includes the now famous Flying Saucer. RSVP no later than today! RMB 200. 8am-6pm. Beijing Mandarin School E-Tower (6508.1026)

Chinese Hospital and Pharmacy Visit, June 25
Ages 12+ This 3 hour experience includes a brief lesson on Traditional Chinese medicine and a meeting with TCM doctors for a diagnosis. Visitors will be able to try one or two of various treatments such as acupuncture, vacuum cupping, moxibustion, massage and others. Concludes with a visit to their herbal pharmacy to look at strange herbs, weird bugs, and animals used for medicinal purposes. RMB 250. 9.30am-12.30pm. China Culture Center (6432.9341)

Storytelling for Kids: The Adventures of Poucher & Big Guy, June 26
All ages. Join Arthur Charles and Kate Anderson for a look at their popular Australian and adventure themed book series. RMB 30. 10am-Noon. The Bookworm (6586.9507)

Sometimes finding friends can be hard in the city, but not with Bumps 2 Babes.

Ongoing Events

Bumps 2 Babes Play Dates
All ages. Summer can be a hard transition for expat families staying in Beijing, especially if friends have left or are gone for vacation.  Get to know other neighbors outside your normal circle with these regional play dates. Time and location varies. (wechat: vanessajencks)

Aerial Yoga Class, Tuesdays
Ages 16+ Join this sexy and fun class to nail those handstand poses you can’t reach on your own. RMB 49 (Groupon DianPing) RMB 199 (Drop-in). 12.30-1.30pm and 6-9pm. Wangjing Soho (WeChat: divadanceacademy)

Taekwondo Fit Girl’s Class, Wednesdays
Ages 13+ NB8 Taekwondo classes for women will help you achieve greater strength and improved self-control. Classes teach how to effectively stop an attacker who is bigger than you, while at the same time improving your balance, hand-eye coordination, and build faster reflexes. RMB 1250. 7.30-8.30pm. Shangdu Soho, (ntep3@me.com)

Cavalia, June 20 – July 31
All ages. Cavalia has extended its stay for the whole summer. Cheap seats sell out weeks in advance, so plan ahead if you want in on a budget. RMB 120-1980. 2.30pm, 7.30pm. Chaoyang Park Dong San Men Parking Lot (ponypiao@damai.cn)

Jazz-Pop Class, Fridays
Ages 13+ Got problems with coordination? Let Giselle at Diva Dance Academy whip you into shape with some moves to boot. RMB 49 (Groupon DianPing) RMB 199 (Drop-in). 6-9pm. Wangjing Soho (WeChat: divadanceacademy)

Multicultural Volleyball, Saturdays
Ages 16+ Laid back fun with a mix of volleyball-loving men and women is a great way to start off the summer. Fee is just for court costs. RMB 55. 2-4pm Shichaihai Sports School (WeChat: chubidubby)

4 Best of Next Week

Leadership and Management Training, June 27-28
Adults. The objective of this two day training is to provide teams with powerful and modern marketing tools and inspiring real-life case studies like Tesla, Red Bull, and Hermès, that will help them develop the right critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills. RMB 6,600. 8.45am-5pm. Regus. (https://amcham.eventbank.cn/event/5140/)

How to Help Your Child Survive the Long Summer Holiday, June 29
Adults. Join Daystar Academy’s teachers and community for a discussion about how to get the most out of the summer holiday. Free. 10.30am-Noon. Daystar Academy, Cathay View Campus (Register here)

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland In Beijing, July 1-2
Ages 4+ This kid-friendly one hour retelling of the childhood classic will be in English with Chinese captions. RMB 99-280. Performances held at 10.30am, 3.30pm and 7.30pm. Long Fu Theatre (Buy tickets here)

French Job Fair for French and Chinese Alumni, July 2
Adults. Specifically for graduates from France, the Embassy of France in China hosts this event every year. Last year 150 companies participated and gave 4,000 job interviews in six cities. Free. 2-6pm. Beijing Four Seasons Hotel (forumemploi.clubfrancechine.org)

Photos: en.damai.cn, Kurt Bauschardt (Flickr)

From an early age and from a medical perspective, we are advised on the importance of exercising being a key component to staying healthy. At the same time, exercising is a matter of personal preferences.

This weekend on Sunday, May 22, Sanfine Hospital will host TRY IT! – International Fitness Day. This event is set up as a taster of five different workouts and a good chance to find an exercise that is a personal best fit. The event will be offering  Nia, Yoga, Crossfit, JindaFit®, and Heyrobics, each for 20-minutes.

Exercising like all good things has to be done in moderation and you run the risk of over exercising that can lead to serious injuries or exercise addiction.

Before heading off to try any exercise, it’s good practice to research about the basics. We asked occupational therapist and yoga trainer, Jingyi Liu, to expand upon exercising and the perils of over exercising.

Liu is a Beijing native with 12 years experience as a yoga trainer and an occupational therapist, who works at Sanfine Hospital. She emphasizes enjoying yoga in a safe way to prevent sports injuries.

What is exercising?
Exercising has numerous definitions. Generally, exercising involves all kinds of physical activities with the aim of improving our health conditions. In medical terms, we divide exercises into four different types according to their specific functions, these are:

1. Muscle strengthening and stretching, which includes all types of resistance exercises, like weight lifting and Pilates, and all kinds of stretching techniques, such as yoga and muscle-relaxing rollers.
2. Aerobic exercises. This one is the most popular one, as it’s the most efficient way to burn calories. Such as medium speed running, bicycles, swimming, etc
3. Dexterity training, which focus on coordination of whole body, accuracy and agility of mobility. Boxing, Judo, and Chi-na, tennis, and badminton are good choices for dexterity, although we do them typically for burning fat.
4. Cardiac functional training, meaning the heart rate (HR) would approach 70% maximum HR. This type is often mixed with aerobic exercises, as all the exercises listed can improve cardiac function if the heart rate achieves the target. High Intensity Interval Training, and burpees are typical cariac functional training exercises.

Why is exercising necessary?
The most essential aspects of exercising are:

1. Physical conditions: to remain in a right posture, to keep away from chronic or postural pain, to promote respiratory and cardiovascular system function, to stimulate digestive system, to better absorb food with less constipation, and to expel of some wastes by perspiring.
2. Emotional conditions: To increase the levels of endorphins and other neurotransmitters that make people feel excited and refreshed, and to help concentration. A large number of experiments have been done to prove that people who do regular exercises have longer and more efficient attention with work or study, improving psychological resistance, which is essential to balance life and work/study/any other tedious tasks. Overall, this is to gain a better, healthier life style.

What is exercise addiction?
Exercise addiction is an unhealthy obsession with physical fitness and exercises. It’s often a result of body image disorder and eating disorder.

Several characteristics distinguish healthy regular exercise from exercise addiction:

• Maladaptive: instead of improving our life (physical/emotional conditions), exercise addiction can cause a lot of severe problems, such as injuries (joints, muscles, bones), and other physical damages (lungs, hearts, digestion), malnutrition (severe protein deficiency), etc.
• Persistent: Actually we all overexert ourselves occasionally, but we would rest for quite a long time to make sure no soreness, pain, or any other fatigue signs are left. While exercise addicts can do exercises for hours and hours, (some of them would add on weights continuously), regardless of injuries and fatigue. Furthermore, exercise addicts report withdrawal symptoms when they are not able to exercise, afterwards they may re-start at a high level of exercise.

Common signs of exercise addiction

• An increment in exercising frequency (hours, sometimes no break) that may be labeled as detrimental, or becomes harmful.
• A desire to experience excitement; exercise may be increased as threshold of the excitement state increases.
• Not participating in physical activity will cause dysfunction in one’s daily life.
• Severe withdrawal symptoms following exercise deprivation including anxiety, restlessness, depression, guilt, tension, discomfort, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and headaches.
• Exercising through trauma and despite physical injuries.

For boys (teens especially), how does muscle dysmorphia play a role in over exercising?
Typically, muscle dysmorphia involves disordered fixation on gaining body mass, as by devoting an inordinate time and attention on routines, dietary regimens, and nutritional supplement.

From the definition, we can easily get some thoughts. A sore body needs a great amount of protein supplement (internally and externally) to maintain and form muscles during and post exercises, we may need extra nutritional supplement if the quantity of exercises is great. For young boys, whose rate of metabolism and protein requirement are much higher than the adult average level, they easily get muscle dysmorphia due to over exercising.

In addition, most young boys might not get a scientific guide on how to establish a correct and gradual exercise routine. A high frequency routine will inhibit muscle fibers formation, which definitely worsens muscle dysmorphia, the lack of sufficient muscle support and protection will contribute to skeleton system injuries and spinal morphological changes.

What are the ways to help with exercise addiction?
As exercise addiction often exists with eating disorder and body image disorder, medications might treat these disorders to reduce addictive signs. Exercise addicts should avoid drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and other substances that can cause addiction (all of these addictions may worsen exercise addiction).

• Exposure and response prevention is the primary treatment of exercise addiction. An exercise addict should come to terms with the issue, then needs to stop exercising for a time in order to gain control of the desire to exercise. Self-control is developed during the prohibition period.
• Therapists can treat exercise addicts by instructing addicts to gradually go back to a healthy training routine. The addicts should obey the instruction strictly. Mental and physical dedication is required during treatment.

What are recommended healthy exercising levels?
Each person is different; it’s hard to give a standard criterion of exercise levels suitable to everyone. The most common phrase we may use would be listening to your body.

Photo: www.tattrpufffitness.com